Thora Birch Biography / Pictures
Thora is the first born child of Jack Birch and Carol Connors, who also act as her managers. From an early age, Thora was encouraged by her parents to audition for commercials. She landed several parts
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representing companies such as Quaker Oats and Vlasic
Pickles. However, it wasn't until 1988 that her acting career really
began when she was cast as Molly in the short-lived television
series Day By Day. That same year she played an important role in
the movie Purple People Eater opposite Ned Beatty and Neil Patrick
Harris for which she won a Youth In Film Award for her performance.
Thora was cast in her first, real break-though role in 1991 when she
played Billie Pike in the movie Paradise which also starred Don
Johnson, Melanie Griffith and Elijah Wood. She was able to get this
role by beating out over 4,000 young hopefuls who auditioned for it.
Her ability to portray herself as a young tomboy landed her many
parts in movies including Hocus Pocus and the big-budget films
Patriot Games in 1992 and its sequel, Clear and Present Danger in
1994. In 1995, Thora was cast in the movie Now and Then which is
regarded as Thora's first venture into teenage roles, as opposed to
playing only a kid in the movies. In the mid 90s she also made
guest-starring appearances on various television shows such as "The
Outer Limits", "Promised Land" and "Touched By An Angel". During
this time she also dated Australian business identity Ryan Milne.
She took a somewhat of a break from acting but returned in 1999 with
the made-for-TV movie Night Ride Home. That same year, she won
critical praise by playing Jane Burnham in American Beauty which
eventually won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
It was her lead role in Ghost World which won her great critical
appraise by playing the "funky" character Enid, along side with
Scarlett Johanson and Brad Renfro. She got a golden globe nomination
that year for best actress.
Thora has indicated that she has aspirations of one day becoming a
director. She currently lives in her own home in southern
California.
Controversy
Wes Bentley, Thora Birch, and Mena Suvari in a promotional photo for
American BeautyWhat many consider to be her first adult role came in
Sam Mendes's American Beauty (1999) as the troubled Jane Burnham.
She was only 16, and thus a minor in the United States, when the
movie was made, therefore her parents had to approve of Birch's
brief n--- scene in the movie. Her parents and child labor
representatives were on the set for the shooting of the scene.
Thora Birch's mother was a p--- star between the years of 1971-1983,
working under the name of Carol Connors. She starred in the infamous
p--- movie Deep Throat, in the role of the nurse at the doctor's
office. Carol starred in 21 p--- movies, before she retired in 1983.
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Trivia
Awards
Filmography
This Thora Birch Biography Page is Copyright © 2004 - 2009 Chuck Ayoub
